Vacuum cup luggage carrier



July 30, 1935 P. Q. WILLIAMS VACUUM CUP LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed May 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gvm entov pe/tcj/ wwid mxk July 30, 1935 P. Q. WILLIAMS 2,009,721

VACUUM CUP LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed May 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 30, 1935 r 2,009,721

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" VACUUM our LUGGAGE CARRIER Percy Q. Willianis, Ottawa Hills, Ohio Application May 26, 1934, Serial No. 727,640

4 Claims. (01. 224-39) I My invention has for its object to provide a pressure differential. Fig. 5 is a view of a secluggage carrier secured in position by pneumatic tion of the vacuum cup illustrated in Fig. 3. pressure differential. The invention provides a In t e fo m of co st uct on Shown in FigS- 1 means for creating a vacuous condition within and 2, the carrier or rack I comprises four pipes 5 an air sealed, chambered member closed by con- 2, 3, 4, and 5 connected at their ends to form a 5 tact with a supporting object and formed to con rectangular-shaped frame and having webbing tain or hold articles. Thus, the invention finds or netting 6 or other fabric stretched or extendits more ready application in connection with me b tw n t pipes, whi ms a r lativ automobile luggage racks by reason of its ready 10W n flexible P a a ODE-rates to 10 adaptability to securement on curved or sloping cause the articles thereinto self-center with re- 10 polished or smooth surfaces commonly existing sp ct to the carrier when the Carrie! is Supported on automobile bodies, which enables the creation in a substantially horizontal position.

of a pressure differential. A vocuum cup or sucker I0 is located in each In the particular adaptation for the specific corner of the carrier I. The vacuum cups in use of supporting a rack for'containing articles, are formed of elastic material, such as rubber, 15

a. plurality of cups is disposed in spaced relation and each have a centrally protruding part ll to form a broad base outline and thus insure and a rib-reinforced, inverted, saucer-shaped. marked stability and enable secure attachment of part l2 provided with a peripheral edge portion the vacuum cups to a plane surface or surfaces l3 having a relatively wide air sealing surface I4 :0 located in difl'erent planes or to a curved surface normally located in a plane substantially at right or to surfaces having different curvatures. In. angles to the axis of the protruding part. the adaptation of my invention it is preferably The protruding part H constitutes means connected to a means for producing a vacuous whereby each vacuum cup or sucker ID may condition, that. is, ameans for removing air from be connected to the rack I, while the resiliency 55 a substantially closed system, such as a pump or of the saucer-shaped part [2 operates, when dean internal combustion engine having connected formed centrally and inwardly and the peripheral thereto suitable one way valves for directing air part is placed in sealing contact with a surface, to the engine as it draws its charges of air and to reduce the interior air pressure and produce gasolene during the intake or charging strokes a marked pneumatic pressure differential that,

3 in the cyclic operations of the pistons of the by reason of the large total area covered by the engine- I saucer-shaped part, produces an exceedingly se- The invention may be used for different purcur'e attachment of the carrier to the automobile poses and to that end may be contained in strucin that it not only prevents slipping or the cartures of diflerent forms. To illustrate a pracrier over the supporting surface, but also resists,

tical application of the invention, I have selected. with. a great pressure, an external force tending 35 a structure containing the invention and also a to move the rack away from the supporting surmodified form thereof as examples of the diflerface. ent structures in which the invention may be em- The vacuous condition is maintained inthe bodied, it being understood that further modifivacuum cups by reason. of their connection 40 cations may be made without departingfrom the through the pipes 2, 3, 4; and 5 to the pipe I8 40 spirit of the invention. The particular structhat leads either to an air pump or to the intake tures selected as examples are shown in the acmanifold of the engine of the automobile. The pa y drawingspipes 2 to 5 are formed of piping having a rela- Fig. 1 illustrates a vacuum carrier supported -tlvely large diameter, forming thereby a large on the top of an automobile body on which may total volume. The pipe l8 thus constitutes a 45 be disposed articles, such as valises, bags, and means for reducing the pressure, within the pipes implements, as maybe desired. Fig. 2 illustrates 2,3, 4, and 5, of the rack and the cups and a view of a section of a part of the vacuum cup the pipes 2 to 5 constitute an air evacuated resused for attaching the carrier in position. Fig.8 ervoir of relatively large volume in immediate I illustrates a modified form of the vacuum carrier connection with the cups and operates-to main- 50 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of tain a low pressure within the cups. the vacuum cup shown in Fig. 3 and particularly The pipes 2, 3, 4, and 5 are connected with illustrates reinforcing ribs distributed in spaced elbows i9 that'may be connected to or formed relation throughout the length of the cup and integrally with the pedestals 20 having threaded,

which elastically coact to produce .the retaining tapered ends 2| surrounded by suitable flanges 55 while the flanges 22 fit the exterior surfaces of the protruding parts when the cups I are screwed into position with respect to the pedestals 20. Inasmuch as the protruding parts are provided with conical surfaces that fit the inner conical surfaces of the skirts, and the pedestals have tapered, threaded ends located within the skirts that fit the tapered, threaded sockets, the resilient vacuum cups will be securely connected to the pedestals 20 when they are rotated to cause the tapered ends 2| of the pedestals to be threaded into the conical sockets of the cups, since the conical surfaces of the protruding parts II are wedged against the conical interior surfaces of the pedestals 20.

A suitable valve, such as a ball 23 may be located in a. central bore 24, formed in each pedestal 20 and seated on a seat formed by a reduced central bore 25 that extends to the lower end of the pedestal. The central part of the cup is provided with a passageway 26 that communicates with the bore of the pedestal and with the interior of the saucer-shapedpart l2. Thus, not only will the weight of articles that may be placed on the rack assist in maintaining the rack in position, but the pressure differential that is created by the suction produced through the pipe Ill and the large. area over which the differ-' ential pressure is exerted will operate to hold the rack securely in position.

In the form of construction illustrated .in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 elongated cups 32 are used that are suitably ribbed by the ribs 30, which are disposed substantially in parallel relation over the interior surface of the elongated saucer-shape of the cup. The cup 32 also has a wide peripheral sursealing surface.

vided with a protruding central flange 33. The

flange may be divided into sections 34 by means i of cuts 35, whereby the cupsmay be readily flexed to enable their sealing surfaces 3| to readily conform to a curved supporting surface, such as is commonly found on the parts of the automobile body. The carrier or rack 36 may be connected to the flange 33 by means of the bolts and nuts 31. The carrier 36 shown in Fig. 3 may be provided with suitable flexible sides and bottom and may be provided with suitable standards and corner parts to maintain its box form. Its posi tion on the supporting surface is not only maintained by the weight of the carrier, but also by the suction which is created by the pipe l8, which is connected to the low air pressure producing means of the automobile and to the cups.

The pipe [8 maybe branched as shown in Fig. 3, and a one way valve having the shell 40 may be located in the pipe to prevent return flow of air to the cups 32.

If it is desired, .the flange sections of the cups may be reinforced with canvas to prevent abrasion by the clamping bolts and nuts 31. The reinforcing canvas will operate to increase the durability and resistance to wear of the construction.

I claim: a r

1. In a carrier, a frame comprising a plurality of tubular members, cups connected to the frame of the carrier and communicating with the intubular members, a support, a suction means connected to the said cups through the said connected tubular members for producing a pressure differential on the surface of the cups for pneu-. matically securing the cups to the support.

3. In an automobile carrier, a tubular frame, elastic vacuum cups connected to corners of the frame, means for connecting the said frame to the intake manifold of the engine of the automobile for producing a pressure differential on the surfaces of the cups for pneumatically securing the cups to smooth surfaces of the automobile, a one-way valve located intermediate the frame and the intake manifold of the engine for preventing return gas flow to the cups.

4. In an automobile carrier, a frame comprising a plurality of connected intercommunicating tubular members having relatively large interior passageways and forming a relatively large low pressure air reservoir, the frame having tubular parts projecting from and communicating with the frame, a plurality of elastic vacuum cups connected to the projecting parts, the intake manifold of the engine connected to the frame for withdrawing air from the frame and the cups for producing a differential pressure attachment means to secure the carrier to the surface of the automobile when placed thereon, and a one-way valve for preventing return flow to the cups through the connection with the engine.

PERCY Q. WILLIAMS. 

